Gas-generator.



N. GOODYEAR. GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED we. 2, 190a.

Patenfied Aug. 16,1910.

5 BHEETS-SHEBT 1 N; GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1906.

' !l H f i Patented Au 16,1910. 5 exams-81111151 3.

N. GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED-Aim. 2, 1906.

6 snnnTs-snnn'r a.

Patented Aug. 16

- s a i N. GOODYEAR.

GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1906.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

a SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N. GOODYEAR.

(ms GENERATOR. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 2 1906.

- Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

5 EHEETB-SHBET 5.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

NELSON GOODYEAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 J. B. COLT COMPANY, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS- GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A11 16, 1910.

Application filed August 2, 1906. ,Serial No. 328,874.

l To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, NELSON Gooormn, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of lllal'ihattan, city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (iras-Grenerators. of which the following is a specification,-accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to gas generators, more especially to apparatus for generating acetylene gas, and the objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction of such generators, render them certain and efficient in operation and provide for the safety of the apparatus at all times and under all circumstances, thereby preventing accidents in use.

Another objectof the invention is to enable the. generator to be. flushed out and charged with water and -arbid without admitting air to said tank, and to make the admission of air tothe tank or an escape of gas from the tank impossible.

- Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and to these ends the invention: consists of a generator for carrying out the-above objects embodying the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in seetion of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 IS a longitudinal sectional elevatlon of thesame' Fi 3 is a )lan view; Fi 4 is an h 21 enlarged detail elevation partly in section on the line e-f of Fig. 5; Fig. 5' is a detail plan view partly in section on the line a 7) of Fig. 4; Fig. (ids a horizontal sectional detail View on the line 0-61 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7

is an enlarged detail elevation partly in 1011-.

gitudinal section taken through the 'carbid feeding mechanism; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional plan view on the line 9-11. of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away, of a portion-of the interlocking connections.

The generator tank A is provided with a suitable carbid hopper B supported upon the neck (I, and in the hopper is arranged suitable carbid feeding mechanism, in this instance shown as a valve I) moving in a protective casing E, while between the casing rock the shaft 7).

and the valve .is a stop F, which is raised by the valve D after the valve is raised, and which seats itself before the valve is seated. Any other suitable form of valve may be provided if desired.

The valve D is adapted to be controlled by the gas pressure inthe gasometer G, which, as shown, is provided with a rising and falling gas bell H, and suitable operative connections are provided between the gas bell and the valve for operating said valve. In this instance an arm a is con nected to be operated by the rock shaft 6. \Vhen the shaft 6 is rocked in one direction the valve D will be raised, and when the shaft is released the valve will fall byits own weight. The arm a. is suitably c011- nected to the rock shaft 6, in this'instance a squared portion being provided upon the rock shaft which is thrust through the end of the lever. The rock shaft 0- extends through a stuffing box 0 and is provided with an arm (l loose thereon, having a bearing 6 in which is supported a small rock shaft Suitably secured to the rock shaft f is a latch adapted to cooperate with a hook It secured fast to the rock shaft 7) in any suitable manner by means of the huh I. A spring 7' secured to the latch g and also to a projection Z: on the arm (Z holds the latch normally in engagement with the hook so that downward movement. of the arm (Z will The other end of the rock shaft 7 is provided with a finger Z secured fast thereon and projecting over a stop m, projecting from the casing, so that at the downward limit of the movement-of the arm (Z the finger Z will engage the stop we and rock the shaft f, thereby releasing the latch g fromthe hook h, and permitting the rock shaft 1) to rotate and close the valve 1) in the hopper. The arm (l, as shown, is suitably connected to a rod 0 pivoted to a link p, which is in turn pivoted to .a. l'n'acket on the gasometer bell H so that downward movcn'ient of said bell will rock the shaft 1') and open the-valve I), while upward movement of the gasometer bell ll will permit the valve 1) to close. Anyotber suitable operative connections may be provided for carrying out these objects. The hub 1' of the hook/1. is provided will an arm 17 extending substantially parallel to the arm (I. lly depressing the arm 17, the book A. may be brought into engagement gasometer bell to rise, thereby rocking the rock shaft 6 and bringing the latch g into engagement with the hook it automatically to enable the apparatus to operate thereafter.

.The carbid hopper B is provided with a cover I, and the tank A is provided with a flush out cock J and a water charging device in the form of a water inlet valve K in the water pipe L. The gas .educting pipe 0 passes from the tank A into the gasoineter G, and is provided with a downwardly extending gas pipe Q, which passes through the partition R- in the gasometer.

S represents the service pipe connecting with the drain pipe T and the gas outlet pipe U which has a telescoping cap V pro; vided with gas apertures Vi. The telescoping portion V, as shown,.is connected by means of the rods or chains X to the gasometer bell H and thus rises and falls with said bell. The gasometer bell H is guided on the central shaft by means of the guiding sleeve Z, and suitable means are provided for preventing the bell from rotatmg about the axis of the shaft Y, in this instance a tubular upright r being provided extending from .the partition R while a sleeve 57 connected to the gasometer bell H telescopes over the upright and guided by the bracket t, thus preventing thebell from turning and deranging the carbid feeding mechanism and also forming a telescopic it represents an overflow pipe onthe gas generating tank A, and as shown the hush out J is somewhat above the level of the opening of the flush out pipe leading into the tank A. so that the said opening is always water sealed.

In the educting pipe 0 is arranged a gas valve '2; of any suitable character, and in connection with the valve chamber a pipe 10 is provided leading to the atmosphere. The valve v is in this instance provided with. a centralopening 2 and an auxiliary opening 3, thus makingthe valve substantially a three-way valve. When the machine is empty of both carbidfand water and it is desired to start it for the first time in operation generating gas, let it beassumed that the first operation is to charge in the water 1 in the tank A.

Means are provided forinsuring that the gas valve 4) shall be open to permit communication between the generator tank A and thcgasometer when water is being charged in to the generator tank, so that the gas in the generator tank may pass into the gasometer and out through the service pipe S or Cock ;S.. In order to accomplish this end the valve '0 is provided with a horizontally arranged segmental plate 4 connected to the valve spindle in any su table manner,

as by means of the screw 5; This plate is provided with an aperture 6 adapted to register with a rod 7 connected to the handle 8 of the water. valve K when the gas valve n is open, thereby permitting the handle 8 and rod 7 to be raised to open the water valve K and let water into the generating chamber A. The segment 4 is preferably provided. witha handle 9 in order that it may be turned, and in all other positions of this segment the water valve K is prevented. from being opened because the rod 7 cannot move upward, owing to the solid surface of the plate above it.

After the water has been charged into the generating chamber A, let it then be desired to fill the carbid hopper B with car'bid- In order to do this the carbid cover I must be opened, and before the cover can be opened the carbid feeding mechanism connected to the valve I) must be thrown out of operative relation or disconnected so that carbid can- ,not be fed, and the gas valve. n must be closed to close the gas pipe 0, and at the same time open communication between the generator tank A and the small pipe in to permit any remnants of air to pass out to the atmosphere before the cover I. is opened. Before the segment 4- can be turned to close the gas valve *1) the stop 12 must be raised out of engagement with said plate or seg ment. As shown, the stop 12 is guided by a bracket 13 and isconnected' to a rod 14 having a handle 15, said rod being connected to a bell crank 16 pivoted on the carbid hop per. The other arm of the bell crank being provided with a link 18 having a slotted end 19 inclosing a stud 20 projecting from a cam 21 loose on the end of the rock shaft 7) and the bell crank lever 16 is rocked to raise the link 1.8 and thereby rotate the cam 21 on the rock shaft I) and force the arm, up- .ward, thus forcing the latch (1 out of engagement with the hook it to disconnect the valve mechanism and permit the valve D to close of its-own weight.

Before the cover I can be opened the segment 4 must be .rotatedto close the valve o and bring the enlarged portion 10 of the curved slot 1.1 over the enlarged end 23 of the stop 24, thereby enabling said stop to be raised into engagement with the plate a and permit the cover I to be opened. The stop 24 is connected to a rod 25, in turn connected to a bellcrank 26, which is connected by a rod 27 to an arm 28, carried hy the bail 29 pivoted at 30 to the hopper Br 5 The cover l is provided with a cam-shaped portion 31,

over which the bail 29 rides, so that when.

the bail is moved down over the cam 31 the arm 28 is r ised, thereby rocking the bell crank 26 an raising the rod 25, and also raising the stop 24 having the enlarged end into engagement with the plate 4. thereby locking the plate. The carbid hopper B may .now be filled with carbid without dan ger of accidents because the carbid feeding mechanism 's disconnected and the carbid valve D is c'osed. Communication between the generator tank A and tlie gason'ieterv G is also cut off by the closure of the valve o. Communication'is, however, opened between the generator tank A and the pipe w leading to atmospheric air because the valve i) has been turned to open said communication between the auxiliary opening 3 and the large opening 2 in said valve, to permit the escape of any remnants of air that may be con- .fiush out is open. \out must be closed before the carbid "cover 4-5) to the flush out J.

tained in the generating chamber. Another condition must also have been fulfilled before the segment 4: could be turned to close the valve o and release the carbid cover 1, namely, the closure of the flush out J, for the valve '0 cannot be closed as. long as the Furthermore the flush can be opened, and the opening of the earbid cover and the closure of the gas valve a both prevent the opci'iing of the flush out until the cal-bid cover is again closed and tie gas valve opened. As shown, the lover end of the spindle of the valve o is provided with a crank arm 32 which turns with the valve, and to the end of this crank is connected a rod 33 connected to an arm 34C pivoted on the generator tank, which arm is in turned connected by a rod 35 to a bell crank 36, the other arm of which bell crank is provided with a vertically movable stop 37 gu ded in the :bracket 38 and adapted to register with an opening 39 in a horizontally slidabib plate 10. This plate 40 is also provided with an opening 41 adapted to register with the end of a rod 4-2 also guided in the bracket 38 and connected to a bell crank 43, which in turn is connected by a rod 14 with an arm it carried by the movable bail 25) of the tarbid cover l. The slide -10, as shown, is provided with a pin {to engaging a loop 47 firming one arm of a bv-ll crank 43, the other than of which is connected by a rod The closure of the Hush out J .tnoves the slide 4-0 into position to bring the apertures 39 and 41 under the stop 37 and the rod 42 res 'iectively, so that when the segment iis turned to close the gas valve n the movement. of the crank 32, which is transmitted to the bell crank 36 will force the stop .37 .lpto the aperture 3t, and the downward nuwement of the bail 29 to re lease the carb pl cover l will force the rod 4-2 down into the aperture 41 in the plate 4E0, thus providing a double lock to maintain the flush out closed long as the carbid cover is open and the gas valve closed.

After the generator tank A has been titled with water and the carbid hopper B has been charged with curbid and the cover I closed and the gas valve o opened, the apparatus is in condition to generate gas automatically. and gas will be generated until the supply of carbid in the hopper B is exhausted. A suitable auxiliary valve or stop 50 is pivoted to swing beneath the opening of thehopperli, and is connected to be controlled b the level of the water in the tank A. As shown, a suitable float 51 is provided connected by a link 52 to the side of the tankand guided by a projection 53 moving in the guide The float 51 is suitably connected by a rod 55 to the pivoted stop 50, so that the float rises with the level of the water and opens the stop 50. The sinking of the water level swings the stop 50 under the opening of thecarbid hopper B and prcventsfeeding of carbid.

The operations on starting the machine for the first time when it is empty of both carbid and water have been described, let it now be assumed that the machine has been in operation for some time generating gas, and that the supply of carbid in the hopper is exhausted leaving the tank substantially full of water and residuum, the cal'bid hopper may first be charged with carbid to renew the operation of the apparatus or else the generator tank A may first be flushed out to get rid of the residuum. In order to flush out the tank A it has been shown that the carbid cover I must be closed to raise the rod 42 out of engagement with the plate 4-0, and the gas valve 0 must be turned to open position, as shown in Figs. 5 and (3, to raise the stop 37 out of engagement with the plate 40.

Means are provided for throwing the carbid feeding mechanism out of operative relation when the flush out J is opened, so that carbid cannot be fed. As shown, the looped end 4-7 of the bell crank 48 to which. the flush out is connected, is also connected by a rod 5(3 with the carbid feeding mechanism. Said rod 56 has a loop 57 at its end which passes over the pin 20 on the cam 21 so that when the flush out J is raised to open it the bell crank lever 418 is rocked and the rod 56 is pushed fo ward, thus rotating the cam 21 on the end of the rock shaft Z) and moving the latch 9 out of engagement with the hook it to disconnect the cal-bid feeding mechanism and permit the valve I) to close. The rods 18 and 56 are provid :l with loops 1.8) and 57 at their ends and clos ingthe pin 20 so that one rod may be movedto rotate the cam 21 without moving the Ki O other red. Thus the rod 18 may be raised to disconnect the carbid feeding mechanism and the pin 20 will simply move in the loop in the end of the rod 561 When the rod 56 is moved upward the cam 21 isrotated and the pin 20 moves up in the loop in red 18.

. No. vent to atmospheric air is provided when the generator tank A is being flushed out and instead gas from the gasometer bell H is permitted to pass over through the gas pipe 0 and valve 4) to take the place of the water as it recedes in the tank A. The design and arrangement of the apparatus is such that after all the carbid has been used up in the hopper l3 and the gasometer bell H has sunk in the gasometer tank G, su'liicient gas will be trapped in'the bell H above the water to substantially fill the generator tank A when the water and residuum have been flushed out. In order to accomplish this end provision is alforded for the autoinatic closure of the gas pipe U in the gasometer when the bell has sunk to a prede-' tel-mined distance. The telescoping tu e V, as shown, is always water sealed an gas openings W are so situated that when. these openings are'closedby the water there will be sufficient volumetric space in the gasometer bell above the water to supply enough gas to fill the generator tank A as the water is flushed out of said tank. As the water recedes in the tank A, gas passes over from the bell H and the bell sinks farther down, which is permitted by the rods or chains X which simply pass down loosely through openings in the rod or plate 60. These chains or rods X are provided with stops or balls 61 which engage the plate and raise the telescoping cap V when gas isagain generated in the generator. On again charging water into the generator tank A after it hasbeen flushed out, the gas valve '0 must be open and the gas in the generator tank passes back through the pipe 0 into the gasometer and out of the cock S.

This invention has for one of its principal objects to prevent the entrance of air into the generator tank both on charging in water or upon flushing out. As the Water and residuum are drawn off from the tank sutlicient gas which has been trapped in the gasometer permitted to How over from the gasometer into the tank to displace the liquid. Upon charging in water, the gas claim and desire the and without enumerating equivalents, I to obtain by Letters Paten the following:

1. In a gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and gasometer, of means for trapping an amount of gas in the gasometer sufficient to fill. the volumetnic space of the 'enerator tank when said tank is substantially flushed out, and a gas connection between the generator tank and gasometer.

2. In .a gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and gasometer, of means for trapping gas in the gasometer, a gas-connectionbetween the generator tank and gasorneter, a valve in said connection and means for insuring that said valve shall be open when the generator tank is flushed out and when water is charged into said tank.

3. In a. gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and gasometer, of means for trapping gas in the gasometer, a gas connection between the generator tank and gasometer, a valve in said gas connec* tion, and means for insuring that said valve shall be open when the generator tank is flushed out.

4. In a. gas generator, the combination with a generator tank and gasometer,- of means for trapping gas in the gasometer, a gas connection between the tank and gasometer, a valve in said connection and means i gasometer, a valve in said connection, means for preventing the generator tank from be ing flushed out without opening the valve in said gas connection.

6. In a gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and gasometer, of means for trapping gas in the gasometer, a gas connection between the said tank and gasometer', a valve in said connection, and means for preventing. water from being charged into said tank without opening the valve in said gas connection.

7. In a gas generator, the combination with the generator tank and earbid' hopper of a flushing out device, a gas educting pipe, a gas valve, and means for preventingthe carbid cover from being opened when the gas valve and flush out are open. H

8. In a gas generator, the combmatron with the carbid hopper and cover,'of a gas educting pipe, a water charging device and means for preventing the cover from being opened when said pipe and the water charging deviceare-opern I t). Tn a gas generator. the combination ec'aiee with the carb id hopper, cover and feeding mechanism a gas eductin-g pipe, a valve therein, and means for preventing the carbid cover from being opene until the feeding mechanism is disconnected and the gas valve open.

10. In a gas generator, the combination with the carbid hopper, cover, feeding mechanism and gas educting pipe, .of a valve in said pipe and means for preventing the 010- sure of said valve until the carbid feeding mechanism is disconnected.

11. In a gas generator, the combination with the carbid hopper, cover, feeding mechanism and gas eductin pipe, of a valve in said pipe, and means or disconnecting the feeding mechanism when said valve is closed.

12; In a gas generator, the combination with the carbid hopper, cover, feeding mechanism, gas pipe, and a valve in said pipe, of means for disconnecting the feeding mechanism when said cover is open and said valve closed,

p 13. In a gas generator, the combination with a water charging device, a gas pipe and means for preventing water from being charged into the generator unless the gas pipe is open. 7 i

14. In a 'gas generator, the combination with the carbid hopper and cover, of a flushing out device, a gas pipe and means for preventing the generator from being flushed out until the gas pipe is open and thecover closed.

15. In a gas generator, the combination discharging said generator, means for meas-- uring a predetermined amount of gas in the bell and means causing said measured amount of gas to be conducted to the generator to replace the water discharged.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a generator chamber adapted to contain Water, a gasome- -ter mounted apartof said generator chan'iber and. connected therewith, means for discharging said generator, means for measuring a predetermined amount of gas in the bell and means causing said measured amount of gas to be conducted to the gener ator to replace the water discharged and returned again to the gas-bell when the generator is recharged with water.

ln testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NELSON GOODYEAR.

Witnesses:

E. VAN ZANDT, A. L. OBRIEN. 

